Art for balder12 - charity auction

[amberdreams]

balder12 won one of my offerings in the fanworksauction auction for sylsdarkplace - and by the way it is not too late to donate even though the auction is now over. So balder asked for some art to accompany this rather beautiful story, and I was happy to oblige. Everyone is Trying to Get to the Bar has some wonderfully descriptive passages, with amazing imagery about Castiel's true form, and the nature of Heaven once you get outside of the human regions, and I thought I'd give one particular scene a go.

Initially I liked what I'd done, but now I'm not sure I'm happy with any of it! So I've stopped fiddling and will let you judge. And read the story, if you haven't already!

This is the main part of the picture with Dean inside of Castiel's true form.

I did two banners, both incorporating the main picture

and a darker version


Process bits:
I drew Dean first, based on a ballet photo I found on flickr. I loved the contorted pose.

Then I painted him in PaintTool Sai, added a Hubble photo of the Cat's Eye Nebula because it seemed to encapsulate Balder's description of Cas, incorporated a gyroscope for Castiel's rings, and then finally for the banners I added another Hubble photo of the Horsehead Nebula.
What I wanted to do was a William Blake-esque picture but my drawing of Dean wasn't anywhere as good as it needed to be...so now I'm thinking maybe I should do something else, as I'm not good at doing the same thing twice.

I dunno.

Comments

[emmatheslayer.livejournal.com]

this is very cool

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks Emma!

[balder12.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to say thank you again! This is more wonderful than I could have imagined.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked how it turned out! Your story is amazing and it's hard to do that kind of imagery justice.

[thursdaysisters.livejournal.com]

HOLY CRAP THAT'S AMAZEBALLS

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Why thankee kindly, fair maid.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

This is both stunningly rendered and very bloody creepy, brilliant work honey!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Creepy is good! Thanks me dear!

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Creepy works, I can't stop staring, you'd think at his ass, but no, at the way he's contorted and you can see his pain. Seriously well done!

[el1ie.livejournal.com]

Really beautiful and thanks for showing the processes you use, it's fascinating!

♥

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you like the process parts too, I always like seeing how other people work myself.

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

Dean in the universe??? Amazing!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Dean inside Castiel's universe... it's a really cool concept, you should read the fic! :D

[chomaisky.livejournal.com]

A lot of catch up to do when I'm over the Will fever!

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I love it - really powerful; I need to go and read the story now :)

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

The story is awesome... :D
Thanks!

[madebyme-x.livejournal.com]

Ohhh this is dark and intriguing, and beautifully done. I love Dean's contorted body position and the look of pain and horror on his face.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

Edition 3,246

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User clex_monkie89 referenced to your post from Edition 3,246 (http://spnnewsletter.livejournal.com/901791.html) saying: [...] by Fanart [...]

[kalliel]

Wooooow, this is so intense. From the positioning of Dean's body to the intensity of the colorization--and again, I know I've said this before, because you have such a knack for this, but I love the way you juxtapose such vibrant, contrasting palettes! and I think it works especially well to convey that suppreality of this galactic, Heavenly space--I just love everything about this. And the eerie blue etchings--omg. <3333

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

You always say the nicest things! Thank you!